 Collingwood's side were knocked out at the Super Eight stage in 2009 |
England will prepare for the ICC World Twenty20 with warm-up matches against Bangladesh and South Africa. Both games are in Barbados, on 28 and 29 April respectively, before England start their Group D campaign against hosts West Indies in Guyana on 3 May. Defending champions Pakistan have lined up two warm-up games in St Lucia, against a Windward XI and Zimbabwe. India are the only team to opt against playing any warm-up matches, while Sri Lanka will play just one. Their decisions may have been influenced by many of their players' involvement in the Indian Premier League, which does not finish until 25 April. Captain Paul Collingwood is one of five England players who will feature in the IPL, along with Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara and Michael Lumb. Australia are to prepare for the event by taking on Zimbabwe and the Windwards XI in St Lucia, which is also the venue for their opening Group A match against Pakistan on 3 May. Unlike England, West Indies play their warm-up games - against Afghanistan and New Zealand - in the same location as their Group D fixtures, Guyana. Collingwood's men play both warm-up games in Barbados before moving on to Guyana, where they face West Indies and then Ireland on 4 May. The Kensington Oval in Barbados traditionally produces fast and bouncy pitches, whereas the Guyana National Stadium wickets tend to be fairly slow and low. As well the differing surfaces, it is likely that England will gain differing levels of support in the two locations as Barbados is a far more popular and accessible tourist destination than Guyana. England were knocked out by West Indies at the Super Eight stage on home soil in 2009, before Pakistan went on to overcome Sri Lanka in the final at Lord's. Pakistan were beaten by India in the final of the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007. The upcoming tournament in the Windies was originally scheduled to be a 50-over Champions Trophy, but it was shortened to a World Twenty20 after the 2008 Champions Trophy was postponed by 12 months because of security concerns in Pakistan. It was eventually played in South Africa in September 2009. ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said at the time: "Although the World Twenty20 is to be held every second year, we decided to hold two on the trot to set the calendar right and ensure a better spread of tournaments."
WARM-UP GAMES April 27 Windwards XI v Pakistan, St Lucia 27 Barbados XI v Bangladesh, Barbados 27 Australia v Zimbabwe, St Lucia 27 Ireland v New Zealand, Guyana 27 West Indies v Afghanistan, Guyana 28 Sri Lanka v South Africa, Barbados 28 Bangladesh v England, Barbados 28 Ireland v Afghanistan, Guyana 28 West Indies v New Zealand, Guyana 29 Windwards XI v Australia, St Lucia 29 England v South Africa, Barbados 29 Pakistan v Zimbabwe, St Lucia WORLD TWENTY 20 GROUP STAGE Group A: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Australia Group B: Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Zimbabwe Group C: South Africa, India, Afghanistan Group D: West Indies, England, Ireland April 30 Sri Lanka v New Zealand, Guyana Match starts at 1800 BST 30 West Indies v Ireland, Guyana (d/n) Match starts at 2200 BST May 1 India v Afghanistan, St Lucia Match starts at 1430 BST 1 Pakistan v Bangladesh, St Lucia Match starts at 1830 BST 2 South Africa v India, St Lucia Match starts at 1430 BST 2 Pakistan v Australia, St Lucia Match starts at 1830 BST 3 Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Guyana Match starts at 1430 BST 3 England v West Indies, Guyana Match starts at 1830 BST 4 New Zealand v Zimbabwe, Guyana Match starts at 1430 BST 4 England v Ireland, Guyana Match starts at 1830 BST 5 Bangladesh v Australia, Barbados Match starts at 1430 BST 5 South Africa v Afghanistan, Barbados Match starts at 1830 BST SUPER EIGHT STAGE 6 A1 v D2, Barbados Match starts at 1430 BST 6 C1 v B2, Barbados Match starts at 1830 BST 7 A2 v C2, Barbados Match starts at 1430 BST 7 B1 v D1, Barbados Match starts at 1830 BST 8 D2 v C1, Barbados Match starts at 1430 BST 8 A1 v B2, Barbados Match starts at 1830 BST 9 C2 v D1, Barbados Match starts at 1430 BST 9 B1 v A2, Barbados Match starts at 1830 BST 10 B2 v D2, St Lucia Match starts at 1430 BST 10 A1 v C1, St Lucia Match starts at 1830 BST 11 B1 v C2, St Lucia Match starts at 1800 BST 11 D1 v A2, St Lucia (d/n) Match starts at 2200 BST SEMI-FINALS 13 First semi-final, St Lucia Match starts at 1630 BST 14 Second semi-final, St Lucia Match starts at 1630 BST FINAL 16 Final, Barbados Match starts at 1630 BST NB Fixtures are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made.
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